4. I have had this debate many times with traditionalists who have told me that sharpening a pencil with a knife is part of the ritual, lets you get just the shape you want and prevents shattering of the core. Derwent advise you to use a knife on their site www.pencils.co.uk. Sorry! I don't have the time, the patience or the inclination to sculpt a point. I use a battery operated sharpener. This is a Dahle 230, now called a Dahle Pointy, available in Office World for around £12, taking 4 AA batteries, not included. It has a spiral cutter - something to watch for. Some battery operated sharpeners are nothing more than twisty metal sharpeners attached to a motor - these break cores even quicker than hand held. The spiral cutter puts the force along the length of the core, and does not twist it. The Dahle is perfect as far as I am concerned. It gives a great point, quickly. OK, it eats your pencil a bit if you hold it in too long, and it will clog with wax and burn out the motor in about three months the way I use it. Sharpening graphite pencils in it as well helps to lubricate it and makes it last a bit longer. But these are minor problems compared the the time and effort it saves me.

Stop Press Jan 2005: Office World and Staples have now merged in the UK. This has led to some rationalisation of products sold, and I am VERY sorry to hear that the Dahle Pointy is no longer held in stock. All Staples now offer is a very inferior battery operated sharpener for around £5, which is basically a hand-twist blade with attached motor - no spiral cutter. However, if you ask specifically for the Pointy, the nice people might bring out a catalogue from under the counter of things they can order in specially. The Pointy is in here - but at £21 each, +VAT!!! I am looking for alternative sources, and will keep you updated. If you hear of a source, please let me know.

Feb 2005: Many thanks to Glenn Tutton for the news that the Dahle 230 (and the ELECTRIC version of this, no batteries), can be found at www.paperpunch.com, product code is 426853, priced at £14.57 + VAT and P&P.

March 2005: I have found a very good electric sharpener - the Jakar 5151(V-8). This is a bit of a beast, makes a real grinding noise when it sharpens, but it does so a veey shallow angle, giving long points, and has an autostop to prevent oversharpening. I purchased this online from www.SuppliesStore.co.uk at £29.15 plus £6.14 VAT plus £5.95 Delivery (total £41.24). If my order had been over £35, delivery would have been free. So far, I am very happy with this.

July 2005: The Dahle 230 is available from Euroffice, which is a UK based office supplies firm, at £15.39 - see here. Many thanks to Roger Harris for this information.